Extrusion line with water cooling Microtube

laboratoryfor medical applicationswith air cooling

Processing solution
The Xplore Microtube Line is a laboratory-scale extrusion system for rapid development and screening of precision polymer microtubes using minimal material per test. Fully integrated with Xplore Micro-Compounders, it enables formulation and direct conversion to continuous microtubes for dimensional and performance evaluation.

Capabilities

• Continuous production: Produce polymer microtubes for R&D and process development.
• Material compatibility: Process polyolefins, TPU, Pebax, PEEK, PPS, PEI, PA, PC, PLA and other engineering polymers.
• Formulation evaluation: Assess new formulations, additives, fillers and composites.
• Dimensional optimization: Control and adjust tube dimensions for validation before scale-up.

Key features

• Diameter monitoring: Inline laser measurement for outer diameter control.
• Adjustable processing: Tunable parameters to modify tube geometry.
• Controlled winding: Adjustable torque-controlled take-up.
• Flexible cooling: Air cooling standard, optional water cooling.
• Process monitoring: Real-time visualization and data logging for process control.

Research areas

• Biomedical & drug-delivery materials: Catheters, stents, grafts, drug-delivery tubing and microfluidic components.
• Advanced & sustainable polymers: Engineering, bio-based, biodegradable and composite materials.
• Functional & smart tubing: Materials for sensing, conductivity and responsive behaviour.
• Process & dimensional studies: Micro-extrusion trials, dimensional control and material optimization.

Applications

• Medical & drug delivery: Catheters, guidewire sheaths, medical device tubing and fluid-transfer systems.
• Microfluidics & analytics: Lab-on-a-chip components, microreactors and analytical instruments.
• Fluid & cable systems: Chemical and fluid transfer, fibre-optic protection and wire insulation.
• Transport & energy: Automotive, aerospace, industrial, fuel-cell and battery systems.
• Printing & robotics: Inkjet, 3D printing, precision dispensing and pneumatic actuation.

Documents
Specification sheet available for the Modular Composite Forming Platform (product family specification).

Related Micro-Compounders comparison table
Specification | MC Xperience 5 | MC Xperience 15 | MC 15 HT (Vari‑Batch®) | MC 40
Batch volume (ml) | 5* | 15 | 15 | 40
Max. torque (Nm) | 10 (15**) | 15 (20**) | 40 | 40
Torque per volume (Nm/ml) | 2 (3**) | 1 (1.3**) | 2.7 | 1
Max. temperature (°C) | 350 (425**) | 350 (425**) | 475 | 425
Screw rotation mode | Co‑rotating (counter‑rotating**) | Co‑rotating (counter‑rotating**) | Co‑/counter‑rotating standard | Co‑/counter‑rotating standard
Screw speed (rpm) | 1–425 | 1–425 | 0.1–500 | 0.1–500
Active cooling | Manual and optional | Manual and optional | Automated standard | Automated standard
Application focus | Reliable small-scale micro-compounding & cost-effective R&D | Reliable micro-compounding & cost-effective R&D | High-end micro-compounding for advanced R&D | High-volume batch & continuous micro-compounding

Technical specifications

• Product name: Microtube (laboratory-scale microtube extrusion line).
• Brand: Xplore Instruments.
• Integrated with Xplore Micro-Compounders for direct conversion from formulated compound to continuous microtube.
• Minimal material usage per test; suitable for rapid R&D and material screening.
• Inline laser diameter monitoring for outer diameter measurement.
• Tunable processing parameters for dimensional control and optimization.
• Adjustable torque-controlled winding for controlled take-up.
• Cooling options: air cooling standard, optional water cooling.
• Real-time process visualization and data monitoring for process control.
• Material compatibility: polyolefins, TPU, Pebax, PEEK, PPS, PEI, PA, PC, PLA and other engineering polymers.
• Applications: medical devices and drug-delivery tubing, microfluidics, fluid and cable systems, transport & energy systems, printing & robotics.
• Associated document: Modular Composite Forming Platform specification sheet (PDF available on the product page).